BP, other European polluters, pump money into Senate campaigns

There’s a high conversion rate for European-funded climate skeptics running for the Senate.Photo: Ben KlemmThe way things have been going in the U.S. Senate, you wouldn’t think enemies of climate change legislation (and of the science itself) would need any extra help. However, an analysis [PDF] by Climate Action Network Europe found that big European polluters such as BP are helping fund climate zombies running for the Senate.

The CANE report said the companies, including BP, BASF, Bayer and Solvay, which are some of Europe’s biggest emitters, had collectively donated $240,200 to senators who blocked action on global warming – more even than the $217,000 the oil billionaires and Tea Party bankrollers, David and Charles Koch, have donated to Senate campaigns. [Guardian]

The biggest giver was the German pharmaceutical company Bayer, who gave $108,100 to senators. And the largest beneficiary wasn’t even the infamous climate denier James Inhofe (R-Okla.), but Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) who pulled in $47,500 from seven of the eight companies. [Politico]

A ploy named sue: The Center for Biological Diversity has sued the Interior Department to reinstate the moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf. It argues that more study is needed on the long-term impact of the disaster. [The Hill]

Know the drill: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is looking at a plan which would enable it to track data from offshore oil rigs in real time instead of relying solely on on-site inspections. [Houston Chronicle]

Craptacular: A Sacramento-based company is turning sewage into biodegradable plastic. [Discovery News]

No-land: Greenland is melting at a record pace this year, 25 to 50 percent higher than normal. [Climate Progress]